A polyphonic composition consisting of a series of successive melody imitations.

A form in which the composition is contrapuntal. A theme introduces the piece, which is then repeat at different pitches throughout the composition, set in counterpoint to other musical lines within the texture.

A contrapuntal composition following a strict tonal plan. It is a texture rather than a form. It opens with a theme in one part in the tonic which is then repeated by each part alternating in the dominant and the tonic. It may have as few as two voices and rarely more than four. The difference from imitation is that in imitation the theme may be repeated by another part at any degree of the scale. The fugue became an important texture or compositional device in later Baroque and reached its height in the works of JS Bach.

A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition, each voice enters at different times, creating counterpoint with one another.